Serg. Alfred Hobday 1st Northumberland Fusiliers

Ypres Menin Gate

From a letter sent by a Mr Baldry, who was the Permanent-Way inspector at Blackhill for the North Eastern Railway recorded that "Mr. A. (Alfred) Hobday [who was born in Blackhill and enlisted at Consett] was employed in the same department had earned very great distinction on the battlefield. Mr Baldry states that Sergeant Hobday (Service number 377, of the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers) was promoted for leading his men in a charge when all officers were either wounded or killed at the Battle of Mons, and had been awarded the Legion of Honour and recommended for the V.C. for saving a wounded French officer under exceedingly heavy fire at the Battle of the Marne."

"Mr Hobday was a reservist of the 1st Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers and was one of the first to be called up from this district, having seen previous active service in the North-West Frontier of India in 1908 when, for distinguished bravery, he received a silver medal and two good conduct medals".

In a second letter Mr Baldry goes on to say "It was with great gratification that we learnt about seven weeks ago (letter was dated 17th November) that he been promoted for valour on the field to the rank of sergeant, and then when we heard of another double success-that he had been awarded the French distinction, 'the Legion of Honour' and had been recommended for the V.C., we were delighted".

He was a keen footballer, and after playing for two local teams of good repute, he had last season played for Tottenham Hotspur, after which he was reinstated to his old position on the Permanent Way at Blackhill.

He was killed on the 16/06/1915.

Source: NER Railway Magazine Vol 1 page 297.

The Newcastle Journal 14/11/1914 reports:-

Sergeant Alfred Hobday of Derwent Street Blackhill who was formerly employed on the permenant way gang of the N.E.R. and is now at the front with the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers has been awarded the French distinction the Legion of Honour and has been recommended for the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery on the Battlefield. He saved a wounded officer under heavy fire. Sergeant Hobday formerly played for Consett Swifts and West Stanley Clubs and latterly has acted as full back for Tottenham Hotspur.

The Newcastle Journal 26/06/1915 reports:-

Unofficial intimation has reached his relatives at Blackhill that Sergt. Alfred Hobday of the 1st battalion Northumberland Fusiliers has been killed in action. Sergt. Hobday joined the Army when 18 and spent six years with his regiment in India. His period of service had lapsed. Hobday began working on the N.E.R. and in the interim he played as back for Consett Swifts, West Stanley and Tottenham Hotspur. He was called up at the outbreak of war and in an early stage he carried a wounded officer out of the firing line amid a storm of bullets and shreapnel into safety. He was awarded the British medal for conspicuous bravery on the field, while the French bestowed upon Hobday the Legion of Honour. he was also recommended for the Victoria Cross but this distinction had not been actually conferred.

Alfred Hobday is remembered on the York Railway Memorial and in The Regimental Book of Remembrance page 12

He is not remembered at Blackhill or Consett.

More details about Alfred Hobday
Football and the First World War
The CWGC entry for Sergeant Hobday